The frail, broken Banner walked down the hall with the best smile he could muster. Moments ago, Yang had some sense knocked into her and Ruby was cheered up. Heading to Sun's room, Banner needed to check in on his other victim. Banner would never forgive himself if Sun or anyone else he cared for died by his hand...again. As he walked, Yang's hard words monopolized his thoughts.
"You're nothing without his power," Banner remembered Yang screaming in his face. Even though Yang was speaking out of anger, she was right. Where would Banner be without The Hulk? Would he still be working in the field of science back on Earth? Would Banner have found love with his crush, Betty Rose? Would Banner actually be happy in that life? No time for dwelling in the past; Hulk was part of Banner's life now and both were fighting for control.
If Banner hadn't arrived in Vale that night, Ruby could have been killed by Roman. It was The Hulk who saved Ruby and stopped Roman and Cinder...and that little girl with an umbrella. Banner had fought both Roman and Cinder numerous times after that, but never once re-encountered that little girl. Banner had a feeling that he would have to stop her eventually and bring her and Roman to justice. But for every good deed that The Hulk did, he always countered with something horrible.
The night Banner arrived at Beacon, the Headmaster, Glynda and General Ironwood's lives were almost smashed out of existence. As Banner stayed, the situation kept getting worse and worse. Banner almost killed team RWBY and JNPR in the Emerald forest during inauguration. Almost killed everyone in the school days later when Yang's smart mouth went off and subsequently Banner killed thousands of White Fang and civilians. Then finally, he had a dangerous outburst in the cafeteria that put Ruby's sister and Sun into comas. Banner felt he should just run away and never come back.
But, who would stop Cinder, Roman and...their henchmen? The two henchmen Cinder always had with her. Banner placed his hand on his forehead and tried to think. "Who were those two?" Cinder was the only one Banner could really remember. Banner couldn't really remember what the two henchmen looked like. He could tell one was female, one male, both teenagers. One of them had to be responsible for going into Banner's head and making him lose control in the cafeteria. But which one? No matter who, Banner would stop them. Everyone who had wronged him. Anyone who wanted to bring evil into this world.
"I'll stop...everyone," Banner panted as his eyes flickered a bright green. He thought about the White Fang when they hurt Ruby's friends, Blake and Sun. Banner's shirt and pants tightly hugged his body as it began to grow. Banner began to fill with rage. Muscles stretched. Bones creaked. "No," Banner said in sudden fear. He had to get control over this anger.
"Looks like that week of training did nothing," Banner sighed. He was still and always be - puny Banner who unleashed The Hulk. Was he really the monster everyone feared? The monster who Ironwood said he was. "Ironwood...," Banner said thinking about the general of Atlas's military.
Ironwood hated Banner and Hulk, but hopefully the general had good intentions. Ironwood was just trying to keep the kingdoms safe from someone he thought was a threat. Banner could at least understand Ironwood's intentions, until Ironwood forced him to become an attack dog. Banner would never forgive Ironwood for that. Then there was Ironwood's secret weapon. The girl Ruby cared for, the robot with a soul. Penny didn't have any control over what happened that night in her and Banner's duel. Banner could tell this girl meant well. But he didn't have much to go on since he had only met Penny while she was attacking him as the Hulk.
"I don't have time to dwell," Banner growled, lightly shaking his head. "I can feel you...trying to get me mad. It won't work this time," Banner said to himself.
"Puny Banner, it's Hulk turn," the monster in Banner's head ordered.
"We made a deal," Banner growled as he paced the hall. Suddenly, he felt extremely weak. "What are you doing?" Banner asked in shock leaning against a wall for support. "This is getting old, Hulk. Now, STOP. I can't lose control and have you hurt more innocent people."
"HULK NOT HURT INNOCENT PEOPLE," the Hulk screamed in Banner's head.
"Damn it," Banner gasped. He grabbed his head in pain and fell to his knees. The Hulk's roar sounded like a cannon went off next to Banner's ear. "Leave...me...alone," Banner panted as blood dripped on the floor from his nose. "You have hurt many people, Hulk," Banner said, finding strength. He picked himself up off the ground. "But don't do this. Don't fight me for control right now. Please."
"Hulk not mean to hurt Blondie," the savage voice said in guilt. "Other voice in puny Banner's head make Hulk do it."
"Then," Banner said as the pain in his head receded, "don't fight me right now. We will catch the people who made you mad and stop them and..."
"No," the savage voice interrupted.
"What?" Banner asked in disbelief. "What are you saying, Hulk?"
"HULK WILL SMASH THEM!"
The Hulk left Banner's thoughts...for now.
"Come on," Banner said to himself. He had to get going, no matter what, to check on Sun and see how the young Faunus was holding up. "Sun...I'm so sorry i did this to..."
Banner was interrupted by a girl screaming, "NOO!"
Banner found the scream coming from the room Sun was supposed to be in. Banner was too weak to run, but he had to find out who cried out. He took a step and fell on his hands and knees. He heard the voice suddenly sobbing. It sounded so familiar. It sounded like it was - Blake?
"No no no," Banner said as he gritted his teeth and filled with guilt. If Blake was crying in Sun's room, that meant that...NO. Banner looked up, green in his eyes. His body filled with anger and adrenaline. The door exploded as Banner busted in.
Neptune and Blake looked at him in shock. Between them Sun lay in the hospital bed, motionless. Banner looked at the flat line on the heart monitor.
"B-banner?" Blake asked in confusion. What was Banner doing here? He was supposed to be with Ozpin and Ironwood. That awful scent filled Blake's nose, the radiation. Her life flashed before her eyes as green began to cover Banner. He was staring straight at Sun's body.
"BANNER," Neptune screamed, not affecting Banner in the slightest. "I'm gonna kill you!" Neptune grabbed his weapon and stabbed at Banner with all the strength he could mustter from the anger from the loss of his best friend.
Blake and Neptune were slammed to the floor as electricity sparked everywhere. Neptune's trident had bounced off Banner's skin like it was steel.
"Banner, NO," Blake screamed realizing what was about to happen. Banner's shirt began to tear off his body as his purple jeans ripped down his legs. "Banner, please! Don't lose...," Blake was too late. The Hulk was in the building.
"HULK," the green giant's voice roared, shaking the entire hospital, as he looked around his environment to find something to smash. Except, there was nothing that the Hulk could get angry at. Blake and Neptune cowered in fear at his feet and Sun lay in bed. "Not..smash?" The Hulk walked over to Sun's side and stared at the young lifeless Faunus. As he gazed at Sun, he remembered the night at the docks when he protected Sun and Blake from the bad people. "Why monkey boy not move?"
"Hulk...," Blake sobbed. She stood and held his huge green hand, "...he's gone."
"Monkey boy...gone?" Hulk asked unsure. What was this feeling that the Hulk felt all of a sudden? It wasn't anger or joy. Was this sadness and grief? Hulk doesn't like this feeling!
Neptune watched Blake and Hulk as tears rolled off his face. "How could Blake forgive a monster like that?" he asked himself.
"D-did Hulk do this?" The green giant asked Blake. She was one of the only few Hulk considered a friend. She looked up into his green eyes.
Blake had no idea how to answer such a horrible question. She could just lie to the Hulk...but she couldn't tell him the truth. How would he respond? Would he take it well, or get angry? No...Banner deserved to know. "Yes...," Blake panted. "Banner, you did this to Sun."
That moment, something impossible happened. The Hulk let out a huge tear that fell off his face, and landed onto Sun's chest. "Hulk...," he said in absolute guilt. Hulk just wanted to be left alone. He never wanted to hurt another soul again. But again, he took the life of another person who considered him a friend. Hulk thought of Sun's stupid smile and his happy and optimistic personality. Now, all that was left was a corpse of that once hopeful person.
Hulk thought about the evil woman's voice who had encouraged him to attack Yang and Sun, "Remember me?" That voice had been able to sneak its way into Banner's head and mess with The Hulk. How was he weak enough to let someone play with his mind and make him hurt his only friends? Thinking about everything made Hulk...mad.
Hulk looked at Sun's body, "FRIEND NOT LEAVING HULK AGAIN!" The sudden explosion of anger emanating from The Hulk pushed Blake into Neptune. Both of them looked at Hulk who was shaking in absolute anger. "HULK SAVE MONKEY BOY! SUN WON'T DIE!" The Hulk grabbed the bed, and lifted Sun's body so they were face to face. Hulk took a deep breath, thinking about all the pain caused by Cinder, Roman, The White Fang and everyone else who wanted to hurt the people he cared for. Hulk let loose a mighty roar into Sun's face. It shook all of Beacon and made Sun and Blake's ears ring. The floor began cracking as Hulk kept roaring.
"Hulk...he's gone," Neptune let out. "He's never coming back and it's your fault!" It was if a hot knife was stabbing into Neptune's heart as he admitted the death of his friend. "Its all your fault...," Neptune panted.
Hulk let go off the bed and stopped roaring. The bed fell to the floor with Sun still in it. Banner watched through Hulk's eyes, "Come on, kid..." As the bed landed back on the hospital floor, Sun gasped for air. The heart rate monitor went crazy as Sun breathed.
"I, what, where, how?" Sun panted as he looked around. Blake and Neptune's hearts stopped as they watched their friend come back from the dead. Sun looked toward them, "Please tell me no one kissed me." Sun laid his head down, taking very deep breaths. He slowly closed his eyes, going to sleep. The heart monitor blinked steadily.
"Now," a voice said catching Neptune and Blake off guard. Banner had reappeared and looked down upon the sleeping Sun, "Where were we?"
"You...," Neptune growled. He quickly grabbed his trident and aimed it at Banner's chest, "You did this!"
Banner looked dead into Neptune's eyes, "Go ahead. Make me angry..."
As Neptune looked in Banner's eyes, it was like he could see the Hulk himself. His trident began to lightly shake in fear in his hand. "I'll...i'd kill you before you could transform," Neptune stuttered out of fear.
"Oh?" Banner asked tilting his head. He walked toward Neptune and leaned his chest against the sharp end of the trident, "Come on. I don't have all day. If you're going to talk like that you had better be able to back it up," Banner mocked. Sweat began to form on Neptune's forehead as he gulped. The trident shook in even more fear.
"ENOUGH," Blake yelled, startling both of them. "Can both of you just calm down?" she yelled with tears in her eyes. "One second, I'm talking to Neptune. Sun dies. You burst in," she said poking Banner in the chest, hard, "and then YOU bring Sun back from the dead! Can everyone just stop fighting and take a breather?"
Banner looked back to Sun. He was still sleeping and seemed to be in near perfect condition. How did Banner know he could bring Sun back? Was his anger that powerful that it could not only destroy, but revive?
Neptune looked down, accepting how stupid he was acting. He dropped his trident. "Banner...," he said looking up to face the man who was the reason why everyone was in that room in the first place, "I'm sorry."
Banner began, "It's okay Neptune. But I..."
"But I need to know one thing," Neptune interrupted. He and Banner's eyes were locked and Banner knew what question was coming. "Who was the one who attacked Sun that day in the cafeteria? You, or The Hulk?"
"Neptune, why would you ask such a question?" Blake yelled at him. "I already told you, it wasn't..."
"Blake," Banner said, cutting her off, "he wants to hear it from me." Neptune nodded at him. "That day in the cafeteria...it wasn't me."
Neptune was about to yell, "Stop telling me..."
"Shut up" Banner exploded. Blake reached for her weapon and Neptune raised his trident. "Maybe if you just listened, we'd be able to get somewhere," Banner suggested. Neptune sighed as he sat down crossing his arms. "Somebody was able to get inside my mind and make me turn," Banner explained. "I don't know how...but she may still be able to gain access into my mind and make me turn again."
"Then we have to stop her," Neptune stated. He quickly stood.
"Not yet," Banner growled at him. "I really want to find these people too, Neptune. Do you honestly think i don't feel guilty whenever the Hulk comes out and innocent people get hurt?" Banner asked grabbing Neptune's shoulder. "It's killed me me knowing that I hurt Yang and Sun and everyone else! But when I came in here and thought Sun had really died...I blew up. But I promise, both of you," Banner said looking around the room, "I won't hurt anyone of you again."
Neptune's head slowly turned to see his best friend peacefully sleeping. His anger refueled as he thought about how this all could have been avoided, if Banner had never arrived in Remnant. "How do we know you mean it this time?" Neptune snapped at Banner.
"Because," Banner said getting in Neptune's face, "I will stop everyone who wants to hurt the people I care for!" Neptune could tell Banner wasn't the bad guy. He was just a misunderstood man who wanted to be left alone.
As Banner and Neptune settled their problems, Blake knew she wasn't needed here anymore and was about to leave.
"Stop," Banner said right as Blake's hand touched the doorknob. "Ruby's told me that lately, you've been quiet, antisocial and moody," Banner said as he turned and looked at Blake.
"Hum, Banner? Have you met Blake?" Neptune asked as he scratched his head in confusion.
"Which, I get," Banner understood. "It's kind of 'your thing', but you've been doing it more than usual. Which, quite frankly, is unacceptable. You made a promise to me, your team and all of us that you would let us know if something was wrong. So, Blake Belladonna," Banner said walking over to her and crossing his arms, "what is wrong?"
Blake sighed, "...I just, I don't know how everyone can be so calm."
"You still thinking about Torchwick?" Banner asked.
Blake yelled, "Torchwick, The White Fang, the people who you say have infiltrated Beacon and could cause The Hulk to come out at any time, all of it! Something big is happening and nobody is doing a thing about it!"
"Ozpin told everyone not to worry about it," Banner argued. "Between the Huntsmen and the police, I'm sure they can handle it."
Blake screamed, "WELL I'M NOT! No one knows the White Fang like I do."
"Okay," Banner smiled as he face palmed, "between fighting criminals, The White Fang and even me, you think you you can go out and stop them? But, let me correct you on something. You're a student, Blake," Banner said patting her on the shoulder, "you're not ready to handle this type of situation." Neptune opened his mouth to argue, or say a funny remark. "You're not ready," Banner snapped at them both.
Blake screamed back, "AND WE MAY NEVER BE READY! Our enemies aren't just going to sit around and wait for us to graduate. They are out there," Blake said pointing toward the door, "planning their next move and none of us know what it is, but it's coming! Whether we're ready, or not."
Banner hugged Blake. The young Faunus blushed with the sudden act of kindness. "Blake," he said pulling away from the hug, "I understand how you feel completely. But you're only a student. Go, spend time with your team and make up with them. You and Weiss both need to realize that you shouldn't push yourselves too hard. The way Yang is healing, she should be able to leave by tomorrow. I bet your whole team will be there to see her. And Neptune," Banner said facing the blue haired teen, "You should go too. Get some rest."
"But Sun...," Neptune tried to argue.
"Neptune," Banner said looking into his eyes, "I got it from here."
Neptune and Blake left Banner alone in Sun's room. Blake was off to speak to Weiss and Ruby and see if she could make amends. Neptune just needed to get some sleep. Banner sat down in a chair and watched the young Faunus sleep. Before long, his eyes began to droop.
Banner was awoken by a familiar voice, " , it's time to get up."
"Ozpin," Banner smiled as he opened his eyes to see the Headmaster.
"I got worried when you didn't answer your scroll. Ironwood has his army outside the hospital," Ozpin admitted.
"What, why?" Banner asked frantically. He reached in his back pocket to find his scroll in several pieces from when he transformed into The Hulk.
"I got worried that you had turned and tried to call you. You didn't answer and Ironwood got antsy," Ozpin sighed. "I told him it would be fine but alas..."
"He's Ironwood," Banner finished.
"Exactly," Ozpin agreed. "Come, Banner, we must let Sun rest."
"Sun," Banner exclaimed as remembered the monkey Faunus. He jumped to his feet to find Sun was still asleep. "So I did save him..."
"Banner, did you turn into the Hulk?" Ozpin asked as he looked at Sun too.
"Yes, Ozpin, I did," Banner nodded. "Sun died...and i couldn't let another person be killed by me," he said as he clinched his fists and looked at the ground.
"I see," Ozpin said trying to comprehend the situation. "So...the Hulk can bring back the dead?"
"No, well...I don't know exactly. More like emergency CPR," Banner shrugged.
"Come on, Banner. We have much to explain to Ironwood and the many soldiers outside of the building," Ozpin said heading out the door.
"What about Sun?" Banner asked staying by Sun's side.
"We'll take care of him," a nurse said as she walked in. To her side, another nurse. This one was very small. She had jet black hair and green eyes...
"Come, Banner," Ozpin said. Banner stayed and glared at the two nurses. They seemed so familiar, but Banner couldn't think where he had met them.
"Don't be alarmed, Mr. Banner. We'll take good care of this student," the older nurse smiled. It was like her eyes...almost glowed. Banner left with Ozpin, to speak with Ironwood.
Once Banner and Ozpin were out of sight, the main nurse looked down at her accomplice, "Good work, Neo. That outfit looks great on you!"
Neo smiled as she popped her knuckles, ready for their next big plan. She looked and pointed at Sun questionably.
"Don't worry about him," Cinder snorted. "We've made it into Beacon. That's all that matters."